Sheridan County Appendix

SHERIDAN COUNTY ...... 2 CITY OF GORDON ...... 19 CITY OF HAY SPRINGS ...... 43 CITY OF RUSHVILLE ...... 57

REGION 23 EMA HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN | 2020 1 County Profile

SHERIDAN COUNTY

Region 23 Emergency Management Agency Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

2020

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Local Planning Team

Table SHR.1: Sheridan County Local Planning Team NAME TITLE JURISDICTION JAMES KROTZ County Commissioner Sheridan County EVERET LANGFORD Fire Fighter and Deputy Sheridan County

Figure SHR.1: Sheridan County

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Location, Geography, and Climate Sheridan County is located in northwestern Nebraska and is bordered by Cherry, Grant, Garden, Box Butte, and Dawes Counties in Nebraska and Oglala Lakota County in South Dakota. The total area of Sheridan County is 2,470 square miles. The Niobrara River flows east-west through the center of the county. Sheridan County is comprised primarily of Sandhills and Plains, with smaller areas of Valleys, Bluffs and Escarpments, and Dissected Plains topographic regions1, with the majority of land used as rangeland for livestock.

Climate For Sheridan County, the normal high temperature for the month of July is 86.1°F and the normal low temperature for the month of January is 11.7°F. On average, Sheridan County receives 18.59 inches of precipitation and 36.1 inches of snowfall per year. The table below compares climate indicators with those of the entire state. Climate data is helpful in determining if certain events are higher or lower than normal. For example, if the high temperatures in the month of July are running well into the 90s, high heat events may be more likely which could impact vulnerable populations.

Table SHR.2: Sheridan County Climate Normals Sheridan County State of Nebraska JULY NORMAL HIGH TEMP 86.1°F 87.4°F JANUARY NORMAL LOW TEMP 11.7°F 13.8°F ANNUAL NORMAL PRECIPITATION 18.59” 23.8” ANNUAL NORMAL SNOWFALL 36.1” 25.9” Source: NCEI 1981-2010 Climate Normals2, High Plains Regional Climate Center, 1981-20103 Precipitation includes all rain and melted snow and ice.

Transportation Sheridan County’s major transportation corridors include Nebraska Highway 2 running east-west, Nebraska Highway 27 running north-south, Nebraska Highway 250 running north-south, Nebraska Highway 87 running north-south, and U.S. Highway 20 running east-west. US Highway 20 is the major corridor of transport through the county. A Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail line also bisects the southern edge of the county. Rail lines commonly transport hazardous materials through the county including coal, oil, or waste materials. The county also has air landing strips located in Hay Springs, Rushville, and Gordon. Critical facilities along these major transportation routes include the County Courthouse, hospital, police departments, County Sheriff’s office, and fire departments in Rushville, Hay Springs, and Gordon. This information is important to hazard mitigation plans insofar as is suggests possible evacuation corridors in the county, as well as areas more at risk to transportation incidents.

1 Center for Applied Rural Innovation. “Topographic Regions Map of Nebraska.” 2001. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/caripubs/62. 2 National Centers for Environmental Information. “1981-2010 U.S. Climate Normals.” Accessed December 2019. https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/datatools. 3 High Plains Regional Climate Center. “Monthly Climate Normals 1981-2010 – Hay Springs NE.” Accessed December 2019. http://climod.unl.edu/.

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In the county, a spray plane crashed and contaminated a small area. Local response resources include hazmat crews in Chadron and Scottsbluff. The local planning team indicated vulnerable populations are located at the Parkview Lodge in Rushville near major routes. Private entities, local emergency response units, and state resources have strict regulatory oversight and emergency action plans in place to respond to significant chemical spills.

Demographics The following figure displays the historical population trend from 1890 to 2017. This figure indicates that the population of Sheridan County has been declining since the 1930s. This is notable for hazard mitigation because communities with declining population may also have a higher level of unoccupied housing not being maintained. Furthermore, areas with declining population will be less prone to pursuing residential/commercial development in their areas, which may reduce the number of structures vulnerable to hazards in the future. Decreasing populations can also represent decreasing tax revenue for the county which could make implementation of mitigation actions more fiscally challenging.

Figure SHR.2: Population 1890 – 2017 Sheridan County Population 12,000 10,793 9,869 9,625 9,539 10,000 9,049 8,687 7,544 8,000 7,328 7,285 6,750 6,198 5,469

Pop. 6,000 6,033 4,000 5,241

2,000

0 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 Year Source: U.S. Census Bureau4

The following table indicates the State of Nebraska has a higher percentage of people under the age of five; however Sheridan County has a greater proportion of residents over 64. This is relevant to hazard mitigation insofar as the very young and elderly populations may be at greater risk from certain hazards than others. For a more elaborate discussion of this vulnerability, please see Section Four: Risk Assessment.

4 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: S0101: Age and Sex.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov.

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Table SHR.3: Population by Age AGE SHERIDAN COUNTY STATE OF NEBRASKA <5 4.8% 6.9% 5-64 69.8% 78.3% >64 25.4% 14.8% MEDIAN 46.1 36.2 Source: U.S. Census Bureau5

The following table indicates that median household income and per capita income for the county is slightly lower than the State of Nebraska. Median home value and rent are also both lower than the rest of the state. These economic indicators are relevant to hazard mitigation because they indicate the relative economic strength compared to the state as a whole. Areas with economic indicators which are relatively low may influence a county’s level of resilience during hazardous events.

Table SHR.4: Housing and Income SHERIDAN COUNTY STATE OF NEBRASKA MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME $41,209 $56,675 PER CAPITA INCOME $25,817 $29,866 MEDIAN HOME VALUE $70,900 $142,000 MEDIAN RENT $604 $773 Source: U.S. Census Bureau6,7

The following figure indicates that the majority of housing in Sheridan County was built prior to 1939 (41.0%). According to 2017 ACS 5-year estimates, the county has 2,916 housing units with 79.1% percent of those units occupied. Approximately 20% of homes in the county are vacant. Vacant homes are more likely to become dilapidated with unsafe conditions, increasing risk to fire and lowering overall property home values and tax base. There are approximately 237 mobile homes in the county. Housing age can serve as an indicator of risk as structures built prior to state building codes may be at greater risk. Finally, residents that live in mobile homes may be more vulnerable to the impacts of high winds, tornadoes, and severe winter storms.

Figure SHR.3: Housing Units by Year Built

BUILT 1939 OR EARLIER 1,196 BUILT 1940 TO 1949 253 BUILT 1950 TO 1959 357 BUILT 1960 TO 1969 266 BUILT 1970 TO 1979 332 BUILT 1980 TO 1989 154 BUILT 1990 TO 1999 190 BUILT 2000 TO 2009 164 BUILT 2010 TO 2013 4 BUILT 2014 OR LATER 0

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

Source: U.S. Census Bureau8

5 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: S0101: Age and Sex.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov. 6 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP04: Selected Housing Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov. 7 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov. 8 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP04: Selected Housing Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov.

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Table SHR.5: Housing Units Jurisdiction Total Housing Units Occupied Housing Units Occupied Vacant Owner Renter Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

SHERIDAN COUNTY 2,306 79.1% 610 20.9% 1,622 70.3% 684 29.7% NEBRASKA 748,405 90.8% 75,771 9.2% 494,189 66.0% 254,216 34.0% Source: U.S. Census Bureau9 Major Employers According to 2016 Business Patterns Census Data, Sheridan County had 169 business establishments. The following table presents the number of establishments, number of paid employees, and the annual payroll in thousands of dollars. Communities which have a diverse economic makeup may be more resilient following a hazardous event, especially if certain industries are more impacted than others.

Table SHR.6: Business in Sheridan County TOTAL NUMBER OF PAID ANNUAL PAYROLL BUSINESSES EMPLOYEES (IN THOUSANDS) TOTAL FOR ALL SECTORS 169 951 $25,831 Source: U.S Census Bureau10

Agriculture is also important to the economic fabric of Sheridan County, and the state of Nebraska as a whole. Sheridan County’s 525 farms cover 1,561,598 acres of land, over 98% of the county’s total area. Crop and livestock production are the visible parts of the agricultural economy, but many related businesses contribute as well by producing, processing, and marketing farm and food products. These businesses generate income, employment and economic activity throughout the region.

Table SHR.7: Sheridan County Agricultural Inventory SHERIDAN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL INVENTORY NUMBER OF FARMS 525 LAND IN FARMS 1,561,598 acres Source: USDA 2017 Census of Agriculture11 Future Development Trends Little change has occurred in the county in the past five years. The one notable change which has impacted the county was that alcohol sales in Whiteclay ended in 2017. As a result, the county has seen an increase in traffic and travelers from South Dakota to communities to purchase alcohol. Sheridan County’s population has declined in the past five years which the local planning team attributed to a lack of available jobs and an aging population. At this time there are no plans for commercial or residential development in the next five years.

Structural Inventory and Valuation GIS parcel data as of December 2019 was requested from GIS Workshop, which the county hires to manage the County Assessor data. This data was analyzed for the location, number, and value

9 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP04: Selected Housing Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov. 10 United States Census Bureau. “2016 American Fact Finder: Geography Area Series County Business Patterns 2015 Business Patterns.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov. 11 United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Server. 2019. “2017 Census of Agriculture – County Data.” https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2017/index.php.

REGION 23 EMA HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN | 2020 7 SECTION SEVEN: SHERIDAN COUNTY COMMUNITY PROFILE of property improvements at the parcel level. The data did not contain the number of structures on each parcel. A summary of the results of this analysis is provided in the following table.

Table SHR.8: Sheridan County Parcel Valuation NUMBER TOTAL NUMBER OF VALUE OF OF NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENT IMPROVEMENTS IMPROVEMENTS PARCELS IMPROVEMENTS VALUE IN FLOODPLAIN IN FLOODPLAIN 8,872 3,319 $216,614,971 764 $65,132,016 Source: County Assessor Critical Infrastructure/Key Resources Hazardous Materials Chemical Storage Fixed Sites According to the Tier II System reports submitted to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, there are ten chemical storage sites throughout Sheridan County which house hazardous materials; however, there are none located in unincorporated Sheridan County. For a description and map of chemical sites located in incorporated areas, please see the jurisdiction’s participant section.

Critical Facilities Each participating jurisdiction identified critical facilities vital for disaster response, providing shelter to the public, and are essential for returning the jurisdiction’s functions to normal during and after a disaster per the FEMA Community Lifelines guidance. Critical facilities were identified during the original planning process and updated by the local planning team as a part of this plan update. The mapped flood risk area was generated using HAZUS for this planning update. The local planning team indicated local volunteer fire departments and the Lister-Sage Community Center are used as emergency shelters if needed. The following table and figure provide a summary of the critical facilities for the jurisdiction.

Table SHR.9: Sheridan County Critical Facilities CF Generator Floodplain Name Shelter (Y/N) Number (Y/N) (Y/N) 1 Walgren Lake SRA N N Y 2 Smith Lake SRA N N Y 3 Courthouse N Y N Lister-Sage Community 4 Y N N Center (Hay Springs) Hay Springs Volunteer Fire 5 Y N N Department Rushville Volunteer Fire 6 Y N N Department Gordon Volunteer Fire 7 Y N N Department 8 Sheriff’s Office N N N

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Figure SHR.4: Critical Facilities

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Historical Occurrences The following table provides a statistical summary for hazards that have occurred in the county. The property damages from the NCEI Storm Events Database (January 1996 – September 2019) should be considered only as broad estimates. Sources include but are not limited to: emergency management; local law enforcement; Skywarn spotters; NWS damage surveys; newspaper clipping services; insurance industry; and the general public. Crop damages reports come from the USDA Risk Management Agency for Sheridan County between 2000 and 2019.

Table SHR.10: Severe Weather Events for Sheridan County HAZARD TYPE Count Property Crop Agricultural Animal Disease1 31 492 N/A Disease Plant Disease2 25 N/A $233,905 Dam Failure3 1 $0 N/A Drought and Drought 253/1,489 months $0 $8,785,769 Extreme Heat4,5 Extreme Heat Avg 3 days/year $0 $1,736,668 Flash Flood 7 $561,000 Flooding5 $2,306 Flood 0 $0 High Winds and High Winds 21 $17,000 $2,927,479 Tornadoes5 Tornadoes 29 $349,000 $261,000 Hail 417 $1,514,000 $25,279,419 4 injuries Heavy Rain 1 $0 $3,664,117 Severe 5 Lightning Thunderstorms 1 $1,000,000 N/A 3 injuries Thunderstorm 125 $372,200 N/A Wind Blizzard 10 $70,000 Extreme 18 $0 Cold/Wind Chill Severe Winter Heavy Snow 4 $0 $7,168,613 Storms5 Ice Storm 0 $0 Winter Storm 47 $15,000 Winter Weather 0 $0 Terrorism7 0 $0 N/A Wildfires8 417 175,903 acres $50,525,000 10 injuries 1,138 $3,899,200 $50,109,801 N/A: Data not available 1 NDA (2014-2019) 2 USDA RMA (2000-2019) 3 Stanford NPDP (1911-2018) 4 NOAA (1895-2019) 5 NCEI (January 1996 to Sept 2019) 6 HPRCC (19872019) 7 GTD (1970-2017) 8 NFS (2010-2018)

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County Hazard Prioritization For an in-depth discussion regarding area wide hazards, please see Section Four: Risk Assessment. The hazards discussed in detail below were selected by the local planning team from the regional hazard list as the relevant hazards for the community. The selected hazards were then prioritized by the local planning team based on historical hazard occurrences, potential impacts, and the community’s capabilities.

Drought and Extreme Heat The local planning team ranked drought as a top threat for the county. Drought is generally a regional event, with impacts from a single drought event impacting multiple communities, counties, and even states. A large portion of the workforce relies on agriculturally based income which could be affected during severe drought or periods of prolonged high temperatures. Early drought impacts are not always as visual as impacts of other natural hazards and are hard to quantify. Additionally, extreme heat is a natural part of the climate in Sheridan County. Across the county the median age is just over 46 years and more than a quarter of the population is age 65 or greater. An aging population will be more vulnerable to the impacts resulting from extreme heat. In addition, drought and extreme temperatures can exacerbate the effects felt by wildfires and impact the local economy by decreasing agriculture and grazing land for ranchers. The RMA reported over $10 million in crop losses from drought and extreme heat since 2000. The 2012 drought event accounted for more than $3 million in crop damages alone.

Severe Thunderstorms The county planning team identified thunderstorm events and hailstorms as a threat for Sheridan County. NCEI data reports a total of 545 events with a total of $2,887,200 in property damages and $354,000 in monetary losses recorded to crops. Hail in the unincorporated areas of the county is most likely to impact the agricultural areas of the county. There are more than 301,000 acres devoted to cropland in the county. Hailstorms can have devastating impacts on crops, causing up to a 100 percent loss. Additionally, heavy rain events can cause localized flooding concerns throughout the county and wash out necessary transportation routes in the rural county; while lightning strikes are the leading cause of wildfire events in the planning area.

Severe Winter Storms Severe winter storms are a regular part of the climate for Sheridan County. The planning team identified severe winter storms as a threat in the future, but given the frequency of occurrence, residents across the county are prepared for the events and able to effectively cope with their occurrences. The NCEI reports 79 severe winter storms in Sheridan County from 1996 through December 2019. These events resulted in $85,000 in property damage. Most recorded severe winter events include snow, wind, and ice as the main contributors to damage in Sheridan County. There were 18 reported events resulting solely from extreme cold temperatures. Extremely low temperature events in Sheridan County were reported to be between 20 and 40 degrees below zero.

Wildfires The local planning team identified grass/wildfire as the greatest threat to Sheridan County. The entire county falls within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) as defined in the CWPP. According to the Nebraska Forestry Department, there were 417 reported fires by Gordon, Rushville, Hays Springs, and Heart of the Hills (Lakeside) Fire Departments from 2000 to 2018 which consumed a total of 175,90 acres. The fires also resulted in $59,210 in damages to crops and $926,440 in damages to structures. Of the reported fires the most frequent cause is lightning (38 percent) followed by equipment malfunctions and other miscellaneous accidents. The largest fire within

REGION 23 EMA HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN | 2020 11 SECTION SEVEN: SHERIDAN COUNTY COMMUNITY PROFILE the county, the Wellnitz Fire in 2012, burned nearly 49,000 acres in the Hay Springs and Rushville fire department district areas. Local concerns for wildfire events include the impact on the local economy, distance from available resources, exacerbated impacts felt from drought and extreme heat (such as seen during 2012), and lack of available transportation corridors or access for emergency response.

Figure SHR.5: Wildfire Events in Sheridan County

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Governance A community’s governance structure impacts its capability to implement mitigation actions. Sheridan County is governed by a three member board of commissioners. The county also has the following offices and departments:

• County Clerk • County Assessor • County Treasurer • County Attorney • Highway Superintendent • Sheriff’s Office • Zoning Administrator • Safety Committee Capability Assessment The capability assessment consisted of a Capability Assessment Survey completed by the jurisdiction and a review of local existing policies, regulations, plans, and the programs. The survey is used to gather information regarding the jurisdiction’s planning and regulatory capability; administrative and technical capability; fiscal capability; and educational and outreach capability.

Table SHR.11: Capability Assessment Survey Components/Subcomponents Yes/No Comprehensive Plan Yes Capital Improvements Plan No Economic Development Plan No Emergency Operational Plan Yes Floodplain Management Plan No

PLANNING Storm Water Management Plan No & Zoning Ordinance Yes REGULATORY Subdivision Regulation/Ordinance Yes CAPABILITY Floodplain Ordinance Yes Building Codes No National Flood Insurance Program Yes Community Rating System No Community Wildfire Protection Plan Yes Other (if any) Planning Commission Yes Floodplain Administration Yes GIS Capabilities Yes ADMINISTRATIVE Chief Building Official No & TECHNICAL Civil Engineering No Local Staff Who Can Assess Community’s CAPABILITY No Vulnerability to Hazards Grant Manager No Mutual Aid Agreement Yes

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Survey Components/Subcomponents Yes/No Other (if any) Capital Improvement Plan/ 1 & 6 Year plan No Applied for grants in the past Yes Awarded a grant in the past No Authority to Levy Taxes for Specific Purposes Yes such as Mitigation Projects FISCAL Gas/Electric Service Fees No CAPABILITY Storm Water Service Fees No Water/Sewer Service Fees No Development Impact Fees No General Obligation Revenue or Special Tax No Bonds Other (if any) Local citizen groups or non-profit organizations focused on environmental protection, emergency preparedness, access and functional No needs populations, etc. Ex. CERT Teams, Red Cross, etc. Ongoing public education or information EDUCATION program (e.g., responsible water use, fire safety, No & household preparedness, environmental OUTREACH education) CAPABILITY Natural Disaster or Safety related school No programs StormReady Certification Yes Firewise Communities Certification No Tree City USA No Other (if any)

Overall Capability Limited/Moderate/High Does your county have the financial resources need to Limited implement mitigation projects? Does your county have the staff/expertise to implement Moderate projects? Does your county have the community support to Moderate implement projects? Does your county staff have the time to devote to hazard Limited mitigation?

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Plan Integration The Sheridan County LEOP, last updated May 2018, incorporates mitigation by: identifying hazards of concern requiring emergency action; specific responsibilities of individual communities or community roles; scenarios that would require evacuation; sheltering locations; an animal disease response plan; media contacts; and other information for the county. This plan is updated every five years by Region 23 Emergency Management Agency.

The County’s Comprehensive Plan was last updated in 2014. The plan does not currently integrate hazard mitigation components. Future updates should consider aligning with the HMP. The County’s Zoning regulations were last updated in 2002. Regulations currently prohibits development or expansion of development in the floodplain or wetland areas; require elevation of structures to one foot or more above base flood elevation; and contains a wellhead protection overlay. There are no established building codes in the county. The County does not have a Capital Improvements Plan, 1 and 6 year plan, or other planning mechanisms which integrate hazard mitigation.

Mitigation Strategy

New or Ongoing Actions MITIGATION ACTION ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LOOPED DISTRIBUTION REDUNDANCIES Provide looped distribution service and other redundancies in the DESCRIPTION electrical system as a backup power supply in the event the primary system is destroyed or fails. HAZARD(S) All Hazards ESTIMATED COST $40,000+ FUNDING Rate-payer fees TIMELINE 5+ years PRIORITY Medium LEAD AGENCY Utilities Department, NPPD, North West Rural Power District Upgrades to the system are an ongoing action by the county and STATUS public power districts.

MITIGATION ACTION FLOODPLAIN REGULATION ENFORCEMENTS AND UPDATES Continue to enforce local floodplain regulations for structures located in the 1% annual floodplain. Strict enforcement of the type of DESCRIPTION development and elevations of structures should be considered through issuance of building permits by Sheridan County. Continue education of Certified Floodplain Managers. HAZARD(S) Flooding ESTIMATED COST $4,000+ FUNDING County Tax Revenue, HMGP TIMELINE 5+ years PRIORITY Medium LEAD AGENCY Floodplain and Zoning Administration Enforcing local floodplain regulations is an ongoing action for the STATUS county.

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GROUNDWATER/IRRIGATION/WATER CONSERVATION AND MITIGATION ACTION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES Develop and implement a plan/ best management practices to conserve water use and reduce total use (high water use to low water use) and consumption of groundwater resources by citizens and irrigators of agricultural land during elongated periods of drought Identify water saving irrigation projects of improvements such as DESCRIPTION sprinklers of soil moisture monitoring. Potential restrictions on water could include limitation on lawn watering, car washing, farm irrigation restrictions, or water sold to outside sources. Implement BMPs through water conservation practices such as changes in irrigation management, education on no-till agriculture and use of xeriscaping in communities. HAZARD(S) Drought ESTIMATED COST $10,000+ FUNDING County Tax Revenue TIMELINE 5+ years PRIORITY Medium LEAD AGENCY Upper Niobrara White NRD, County Commissioners STATUS This project has not yet been started.

MITIGATION ACTION HAZARDOUS FUELS REDUCTION The NFS Forest Fuels Reduction Program creates strategically located corridors of thinned forests across the landscape reduces fire DESCRIPTION intensity, improves fire suppression effectiveness, increases firefighters’ safety, and better protects lives and property. HAZARD(S) Wildfire ESTIMATED COST $300 per acre FUNDING Cost share, HMGP, PDM TIMELINE 5+ years PRIORITY Medium LEAD AGENCY Nebraska Forest Service, County Commissioners This project should be focused along the Pine Ridge area of northern STATUS Sheridan County.

MITIGATION ACTION POWER AND SERVICE LINES Communities can work with their local Public Power District or Electricity Department to identify vulnerable transmission and distribution lines and plan to bury lines underground or retrofit existing DESCRIPTION structures to be less vulnerable to storm events. Electrical utilities shall be required to use underground construction methods where possible for future installation of power lines. Severe Thunderstorms, Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes and High HAZARD(S) Winds ESTIMATED COST $1,000,000 per mile FUNDING Public Power Districts, HMGP, PDM TIMELINE 5+ years PRIORITY Medium LEAD AGENCY PPDs, Sheridan County Planning and Zoning STATUS This project has not yet been started.

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MITIGATION ACTION PUBLIC EDUCATION/AWARENESS Through activities such as outreach projects, distribution of maps and environmental education increase public awareness of natural hazards to both public and private property owners, renters, DESCRIPTION businesses, and local officials about hazards and ways to protect people and property from these hazards. Also, educate citizens on water conservation methods, evacuation plans, etc. In addition, purchasing equipment such as overhead projectors and laptops. HAZARD(S) All Hazards ESTIMATED COST $500+ FUNDING General Fund TIMELINE 5+ years PRIORITY Low UNWNRD, Region 23 Emergency Management, County LEAD AGENCY Administration STATUS This project has not yet been started.

MITIGATION ACTION STORMWATER SYSTEM AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS Smaller communities may utilize storm water systems comprising of ditches, culverts, or drainage ponds to convey runoff. Undersized systems can contribute to localized flooding. Drainage improvements may include ditch upsizing, ditch cleanout and culvert improvements. Retention and detention facilities may also be implemented to decrease runoff rates while also decreasing the need for other DESCRIPTION stormwater system improvements. Bridges typically serve as flow restrictions along streams and rivers. Cleanout and reshaping of channel segments at bridge crossings can increase conveyance, reducing the potential for flooding. Replacement or modification of bridges may be necessary to provide greater capacity, maintain or improve structural integrity during flood events, and eliminate flooding threats and damages. HAZARD(S) Flooding, Severe Thunderstorms ESTIMATED COST $100,000 FUNDING County Tax Revenue TIMELINE 5+ years PRIORITY Low LEAD AGENCY County Roads Department This is an ongoing action. Several bridges and culverts on county STATUS roads are in need of improvement.

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MITIGATION ACTION WILDFIRE HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND MITIGATION SYSTEM Develop a hazard rating System through the use of GIS to identify and DESCRIPTION rate areas of the county for their relative wildfire hazard HAZARD(S) Wildfire ESTIMATED COST $5,000+ FUNDING County Tax Revenue TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY Medium LEAD AGENCY Rural Fire Districts, Region 23 EMA STATUS This project has not yet been started.

MITIGATION ACTION WINDBREAKS/LIVING SNOW FENCE Installation of windbreaks and/or living snow fences to increase water DESCRIPTION storage capacity in soil and reduce blowing snow Drought and Extreme Heat, Severe Thunderstorms, Severe Winter HAZARD(S) Storms, Tornadoes and High Winds ESTIMATED COST $2,000+ FUNDING County Tax Revenue TIMELINE 5+ years PRIORITY Low LEAD AGENCY County Roads Department STATUS Planting windbreaks is an ongoing project across the county.

Removed Actions MITIGATION ACTION DEVELOP A DATABASE OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS Work with stakeholders to develop a database of vulnerable DESCRIPTION populations and the organizations which support them. HAZARD(S) All Hazards REASON FOR This project is the responsibility of individual communities and not of REMOVAL the county.

MITIGATION ACTION MAINTAIN GOOD STANDING IN THE NFIP DESCRIPTION Maintain good standing in the National Flood Insurance Program HAZARD(S) Flooding REASON FOR While the county with continue to participate in the NFIP, this is no REMOVAL longer considered a mitigation action.

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CITY OF GORDON

Region 23 Emergency Management Agency Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

2020

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Local Planning Team

Table GRD.1: Gordon Local Planning Team NAME TITLE JURISDICTION GLEN SPAUGH City Manager City of Gordon DAN BISHOP Public Works Director City of Gordon

Location and Geography The City of Gordon is located in the northern portion of Sheridan County and covers an area of 0.93 square miles. Antelope Creek is located just east of the community. Transportation Gordon’s major transportation corridors include Nebraska Highway 27 which averages 1,175 vehicles per day and U.S. Highway 20 which averages 1,275 vehicles per day. 12 Highway 27 is also known as Main Street in Gordon and is heavily used by residents. There are no rail lines located within Gordon. Gordon Municipal Airport is located east of town. Transportation information is important to hazard mitigation plans because it suggests possible evacuation corridors in the community, as well as areas more at risk to transportation incidents.

Chemical Transportation Hazardous materials are commonly transported by a range of transportation methods, including highways, rail, air, and pipeline. Railway and highway transportation spills are the most frequently occurring chemical transportation incidents. While incident proximity will always occur near or on transportation methods, it is not possible to predict precise locations of possible future events. Proximity of pipelines, rail lines, and highways near critical facilities or vulnerable population centers, including schools, daycares, nursing homes, and/or hospitals, increases overall vulnerability to chemical transportation spills. The two main highways, Nebraska State Highway 27 and U.S. Highway 20, are commonly used transport hazardous chemicals through Gordon. In the case of a chemical spill, the Gordon Volunteer Fire Department would respond and have the protective gear and training to respond appropriately. Additionally, the Rushville Fire Department will serve as back-up or assist as needed. Private entities, local emergency response units, and state resources have strict regulatory oversight and emergency action plans in place to respond to significant chemical spills.

12 Nebraska Department of Roads. “Traffic Flow Map of the State Highways: State of Nebraska.” [map]. Scale 1”= 20 miles. State of Nebraska: Department of Roads, 2015. http://www.roads.nebraska.gov/media/2510/2014-statewide-traffic-flow-map.pdf

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Figure GRD.1: City of Gordon

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Demographics Gordon’s population has been generally declining since 1980. Declining populations make communities more vulnerable to hazards as it leads to more unoccupied or vacant housing units and decreasing tax revenues to pursue mitigation projects. Gordon’s population accounted for 32% percent of Sheridan County’s population in 2017.13

Figure GRD.2: Estimated Population 1900 - 2017

2,500 2,223 2,167 2,058 1,958 2,000 2,106 1,756 1,686 1,581 1,967 1,612 1,803 1,500

Pop. 920 1,000 542 500

0 1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2010 Year

Source: U.S. Census Bureau14

The young, elderly, minorities, and poor may be more vulnerable to certain hazards than other groups. In comparison to the County, Gordon’s population was:

• Younger. The median age of Gordon was 42.6 years old in 2017, compared with the County average of 46.1 years. Gordon’s population has grown older since 2010, when the median age was 40.1 years old. Gordon has a larger proportion of people under 20 years old (27.3%) than the County (24.9%).15 • More ethnically diverse. Since 2010, Gordon grew more ethnically diverse. In 2010, 13.2% of Gordon’s population was American Indian and 7.3% was two or more races. By 2017, about 16.6% of Gordon’s population was American Indian and 3.8% was two or more races. During that time, the American Indian population in the County declined from 4.4% in 2010 to 2.9% in 2017.16 • More likely to be at the federal poverty line. The poverty rate in Gordon (13.6% of families living below the federal poverty line) is higher than the County’s poverty rate (7.9%) in 2017.17

13 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: S0101: Age and Sex.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 14 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: S0101: Age and Sex.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov. 15 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: S0101: Age and Sex.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 16 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP05: ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 17 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/.

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Employment and Economics The City’s economic base is a mixture of industries. In comparison to Sheridan County, Gordon’s economy had:

• Similar mix of industries. Sheridan County and Gordon’s major employment sectors, accounting for 10% or more of employment each include Retail and Educational Services in 2017. Additionally, Sheridan County’s industries also included Agriculture/Fishing/Forestry, while Gordon’s include Manufacturing.18 • Lower household income. Gordon’s median household income in 2017 ($34,321) was about $6,888 lower than the County ($41,209).19 • Similar long-distance commuters. About 72% percent of workers in Gordon commuted for fewer than 15 minutes, compared with about 74% of workers in Sheridan County. About 13% of workers in Gordon commute 30 minutes or more to work, compared to about 15% of the County workers.20

Major Employers The major employers in the City include Open Range Beef, the hospital and nursing home, the CO-OP, First National Bank, and the school district. A small percentage of residents commute to the surrounding areas or the Pine Ridge Reservation for employment. Additionally, a portion of local businesses employ residents of the Pine Ridge Reservation who commute to Gordon for work. Housing In comparison to Sheridan County, Gordon’s housing stock was:

• Less owner occupied. About 63.2% of occupied housing units in Gordon are owner occupied compared with 70.3% of occupied housing in Sheridan County in 2017.21 • Older housing stock. Gordon has a greater amount of houses built prior to 1970 than the county, 93.1% compared to 82.4% respectively.22 • More multifamily homes. Although the predominant housing type in the City is single family detached, Gordon contains more multifamily housing with five or more units per structure compared to the County (4.8% compared to 3.4%). About 84.8% of housing in Gordon was single-family detached, compared with 83.7% of the County’s housing. Gordon has a smaller share of mobile and manufactured housing (2.9%) compared to the County (8.1%).23 The few mobile homes located in Gordon are located northeast of town or on East 3rd Street.

18 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 19 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 20 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: S0802: Means of Transportation to Work by Selected Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 21 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP04: Selected Housing Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 22 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP04: Selected Housing Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 23 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP04: Selected Housing Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/.

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Future Development Trends Several changes have occurred in the City of Gordon in the past five years. The packaging plant, Open Range Beef, reopened and has become a major employer in town. Other businesses have opened in town including Daylight Donuts, Sidetracks Liquor, Essence, Security First Insurance, Viaero, and the Fuel Grill. However, several businesses have closed as well: Alco Discount Store and Shopko. The overall population of the City has declined over the past decade which the local planning team attributes to a lack of available housing for workers, a low wage work scale, lack of long-term employment options, and an aging population. At this time there are no plans for additional housing developments in town, but the City is looking to sell some vacant properties for the purpose of building single-family or multi-family housing units. Commercially, a new Mexican food grocery store and a liquor store/gas station may be opening soon. Additionally, the Gordon Economic Development Corporation is evaluating the creation of a “Maker’s Market” or “Trades” location for skilled labor.

Figure GRD.3: Land Use and Zoning Map

Structural Inventory and Valuation The planning team requested GIS parcel data from the County Assessor as of December 2018. This data allowed the planning team to analyze the location, number, and value of property improvements at the parcel level. The data did not contain the number of structures on each parcel. A summary of the results of this analysis is provided in the following table.

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Table GRD.2: Gordon Parcel Valuation NUMBER TOTAL NUMBER OF VALUE OF OF NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENT IMPROVEMENTS IMPROVEMENTS PARCELS IMPROVEMENTS VALUE IN FLOODPLAIN IN FLOODPLAIN 1,017 831 $46,336,285 1 $0 Source: County Assessor Critical Infrastructure/Key Resources Hazardous Materials Chemical Storage Fixed Sites According to the Tier II System reports submitted to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, there are six chemical storage sites in Gordon that contain hazardous chemicals. According to the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center, no fixed chemical spills have occurred in the community.

Table GRD.3: Chemical Storage Fixed Sites FACILITY NAME ADDRESS FARMERS CO-OP ELEVATOR CO 201 E Orin St WESTCO PROPANE PLANT 309 W Orin St 21ST CENTURY EQUIPMENT INC 6742 State Highway 27 PETERSEN SEEDS INC 204 S Elm St NDOT GORDON YARD 50900 6737 State Highway 27 WESTCO NORTH PROPANE PLANT 2003 670th Rd Source: Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy24

24 Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy. “Search Tier II Data.” Accessed November 2018. https://deq-iis.ne.gov/tier2/search.faces.

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Critical Facilities Each participating jurisdiction identified critical facilities vital for disaster response, providing shelter to the public, and essential for returning the jurisdiction’s functions to normal during and after a disaster per the FEMA Community Lifelines guidance. Critical facilities were identified during the original planning process and updated by the local planning team as a part of this plan update. The mapped flood risk area was generated using HAZUS for this planning update. The following table and figure provide a summary of the critical facilities for the jurisdiction.

Table GRD.4: Critical Facilities CF Generator Floodplain Name Shelter (Y/N) Number (Y/N) (Y/N) 1 American Legion Y N N 2 NPPD Substation N Y N 3 Elementary School Y Y N 4 Community Building Y N N 5 High School Y Y N Gordon Volunteer Fire N 6 Y Y Department N 7 Gordon Memorial Hospital Y Y 8 Police Department Y N N N 9 Gordon Countryside Care Y Y 10 Water Storage* N Y N 11 Lift Station N Y Y 12 Wastewater Lagoons* N Y N *Not mapped: Water Storage located southwest of the city; Wastewater lagoons located southeast of the city

The City has six wells which provide water service for the City which were not identified for mapping purposes. Of these wells, two have been identified for emergency use and one has a backup generator.

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Figure GRD.4: Critical Facilities

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Historical Occurrences See the Sheridan County community profile for historical hazard events.

Hazard Prioritization For an in-depth discussion regarding area wide hazards, please see Section Four: Risk Assessment. The hazards discussed in detail below were selected by the local planning team from the regional hazard list as the relevant hazards for the community. The selected hazards were then prioritized by the local planning team based on historical hazard occurrences, potential impacts, and the community’s capabilities.

High Winds and Tornadoes The local planning team identified tornadoes and high winds as significant concerns for the community. In total there were 21 wind events reported in Sheridan County that had winds reported between 60 and 85 miles per hour. Winds of this magnitude, according to the Beaufort Wind Force Ranking, can cause trees to uproot, considerable structure damage, and over turning of improperly anchored mobile homes. According to the NCEI, there were 11 tornadoes which passed nearby Gordon. Ten tornadoes were either EF/F0 and one tornado was an F1. Two of the EF/F0 tornadoes caused $110,000 in property damage and $260,000 in crop damage. No tornado events reported any injuries or fatalities.

Severe Thunderstorms The local planning team identified severe thunderstorms, and hail in particular, as a top threat for the City of Gordon. The NCEI records 82 hail events with a total of $1,087,000 in property damages. Severe thunderstorm wind events caused an additional $46,000 in property damages. Severe thunderstorm events have the potential to down trees and power lines, cause localized flooding issues, damage property, cause injuries, and wash out roads. Additionally, lightning strikes during severe storms have the potential to spark wildfire events in the surrounding areas. The city has identified several locations in need of stormwater system improvements to accommodate heavy rain events.

Severe Winter Storms Severe winter storms are a regular part of the climate for Gordon and are a major concern for the community. According to the NCEI there were 79 severe winter storms between 1996 through December 2019. These events resulted in $85,000 in property damage. Severe winter storms are a concern due to the potential to down trees or limbs, block major transportation routes, cause a loss of power, and extreme cold temperatures put vulnerable populations at risk.

Wildfire The local planning team identified grass/wildfire as a top concern for the city. According to the Nebraska Forestry Department, there were 106 reported fires by the Gordon Fire Department from 2000 to 2018 which consumed a total of 36,002 acres. The fires also resulted in $13,365 in damages to crops and $444,940 in damages to structures. The City of Gordon lies within the WUI as defined by the CWPP. The Gordon Fire Department has mutual aid agreements with the fire departments in the surrounding areas, but during large scale events it is possible nearby fire departments would be unable to lend assistance due to addressing the needs of their respective community/protection area.

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Governance A community’s governance indicates the number of boards or offices that may be available to help implement hazard mitigation actions. Gordon has a number of offices or departments that may be involved in implementing hazard mitigation initiatives. The City has a mayor and a five member council and the following offices.

• City Clerk • Planning and Zoning • Fire Department • Police Department • Public Works Department • Water/Wastewater Department Capability Assessment The capability assessment consisted of a Capability Assessment Survey completed by the jurisdiction and a review of local existing policies, regulations, plans, and the programs. The survey is used to gather information regarding the jurisdiction’s planning and regulatory capability; administrative and technical capability; fiscal capability; and educational and outreach capability.

Table GRD.5: Capability Assessment Survey Components/Subcomponents Yes/No Comprehensive Plan Yes Capital Improvements Plan Yes Economic Development Plan Yes Emergency Operational Plan Yes Floodplain Management Plan No PLANNING Storm Water Management Plan No & Zoning Ordinance Yes REGULATORY Subdivision Regulation/Ordinance Yes CAPABILITY Floodplain Ordinance Yes Building Codes Yes National Flood Insurance Program Yes Community Rating System No Community Wildfire Protection Plan Yes Other (if any) Planning Commission Yes Floodplain Administration Yes GIS Capabilities Yes ADMINISTRATIVE Chief Building Official Yes & Civil Engineering Yes TECHNICAL Local Staff Who Can Assess Community’s Yes CAPABILITY Vulnerability to Hazards Grant Manager Yes Yes, Highway 20 Mutual Aid Agreement Interlocal

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Survey Components/Subcomponents Yes/No Other (if any) Capital Improvement Plan/ 1 & 6 Year plan Yes Applied for grants in the past No Awarded a grant in the past No Authority to Levy Taxes for Specific Purposes Yes such as Mitigation Projects FISCAL Gas/Electric Service Fees Yes CAPABILITY Storm Water Service Fees No Water/Sewer Service Fees Yes Development Impact Fees No General Obligation Revenue or Special Tax Yes Bonds Other (if any) Local citizen groups or non-profit organizations focused on environmental protection, emergency preparedness, access and functional No needs populations, etc. Ex. CERT Teams, Red Cross, etc. Ongoing public education or information EDUCATION program (e.g., responsible water use, fire safety, No & household preparedness, environmental OUTREACH education) CAPABILITY Natural Disaster or Safety related school Yes programs StormReady Certification No Firewise Communities Certification No Tree City USA No Other (if any)

Overall Capability Limited/Moderate/High Does your county have the financial resources need to Moderate implement mitigation projects? Does your county have the staff/expertise to implement Moderate projects? Does your county have the community support to High implement projects? Does your county staff have the time to devote to hazard Moderate mitigation?

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Plan Integration The City of Gordon’s Comprehensive Plan was last updated in 2017. The plan discusses demographic, housing, economic, environmental, and land use characteristics of the community. The plan notes development opportunities for residential and commercial areas but notes fiscal challenges the City may face. The Comprehensive Plan integrates hazard mitigation by identifying hazardous areas in the community (specifically traffic intersections) and by evaluating community support for emergency services (fire and rescue and overall community safety). The plan does not include discussions of natural hazards or strategies to address them, but the city should consider integrating natural hazards in subsequent updates.

The City’s Building Codes and the Zoning and Subdivision Regulations were last updated in October 2019. The Zoning and Subdivision Regulations limits development in the floodplain, flood-prone areas, within the WUI, or near other hazardous areas such as chemical storage sites. Additionally, any chemical storage location is required to be elevated above the 25-year flood level or be adequately flood proofed. The City uses the International Building Codes and are updated as needed.

The 1- and 6-year plan is updated annually and identifies several improvement projects the city is currently pursuing. These include: • Street improvements on the east side of the Highway 27 and Orin Street intersection. The city will change the existing surface slopes to allow for proper drainage and install new concrete surface. • Repave the downtown Main Street parking stalls from First Street to Third Street and from Third Street to Fourth Street. • Restructure the entire intersection of east Second Street and north Elm Street to allow water flow to the appropriate storm drains to resolve issue of standing water with poor drainage. This includes one additional new storm drain approximately one half block south and bringing existing sidewalks into compliance with new ADA minimum standards

The City of Gordon has an annex within the Sheridan County LEOP, last updated May 2018. This plan incorporates mitigation by: identifying hazards of concern requiring emergency action; specific responsibilities of individual communities or community roles; scenarios that would require evacuation; sheltering locations; an animal disease response plan; media contacts; and other information for the county. This plan is updated every five years by Region 23 Emergency Management Agency.

The City of Gordon has an emergency plan for the public water system. This plan is updated annually with the last update in February 2020. The plan identifies chain of command, specific responsibilities, and actions to be taken in the case of power loss, contamination, security breaches, loss of storage, explosion, floods, and infrastructure failure. Copies of this plan are held with the County Sheriff, local law enforcement, and city staff.

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Mitigation Strategy

Completed Actions MITIGATION ACTION BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANS DESCRIPTION Educate local businesses on the value of continuity planning HAZARD(S) All Hazards The Gordon Economic Development Corporation interacts with city STATUS businesses and educates them on continuity actions. The City Manager is involved in this program.

MITIGATION ACTION FIRST AID TRAINING DESCRIPTION Promote first aid training for all residents HAZARD(S) All Hazards Training is available through the local medical facility for residents and STATUS city staff.

MITIGATION ACTION PROMOTE USE OF HIGHER BUILDING CODES Improve any existing building standards or establish new standards as deemed necessary to reduce potential of damage to new and DESCRIPTION existing structures, especially mobile home parks and other highly vulnerable populations such as nursing home facilities. HAZARD(S) All Hazards The City has adopted the IBC codes and updates them as needed or STATUS as new versions become available.

New or Ongoing Actions ADOPT A “NO ADVERSE IMPACT” APPROACH TO FLOODPLAIN MITIGATION ACTION MANAGEMENT No Adverse Impact floodplain management reduces the cumulative DESCRIPTION impacts of floodplain development on flood heights HAZARD(S) Flooding ESTIMATED COST N/A FUNDING Local Taxes and Revenue TIMELINE 5+ years PRIORITY Medium LEAD AGENCY Floodplain Administrator, City Council and Administrator STATUS This project has not yet been started.

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MITIGATION ACTION BACKUP POWER GENERATORS Provide a portable or stationary source of backup power to redundant DESCRIPTION power supplies, municipal wells, lift stations, and other critical facilities and shelters HAZARD(S) All Hazards ESTIMATED COST $15,000 - $30,000+ per generator FUNDING Local Taxes and Revenues TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY Medium LEAD AGENCY Public Works Department New generators have been installed at the wellfields and the lift STATUS station. Additional generators are needed at the community center and police station.

MITIGATION ACTION BECOME A TREE CITY USA Work to become a Tree City USA through the National Arbor Day Foundation in order to receive direction, technical assistance, and DESCRIPTION public education on how to establish a hazardous tree identification and removal program in order to limit potential tree damage and damages caused by trees in a community when a storm event occurs. Drought and Extreme Heat, Severe Thunderstorms, Severe Winter HAZARD(S) Storms, Tornadoes and High Winds ESTIMATED COST $500+ FUNDING Local Taxes and Revenues, PDM, HMGP TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY Low LEAD AGENCY Public Works Department STATUS This project has not yet been started

MITIGATION ACTION CIVIL SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS Improve emergency rescue and response equipment and facilities by providing additional, or updating existing emergency response equipment. This can include fire trucks, ATV's, water tanks/trucks, DESCRIPTION snow removal equipment, etc. This would also include developing backup systems for emergency vehicles and identifying and training additional personnel for emergency response. HAZARD(S) All Hazards ESTIMATED COST $50,000+, varies by need FUNDING Local Taxes and Revenues, HMGP, PDM TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY High LEAD AGENCY Fire Department, Rescue Squad and Administrator STATUS This is an ongoing action and equipment is replaced as needed.

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MITIGATION ACTION DAM ENGINEERING ANALYSIS/REPAIRS AND REINFORCEMENT Conduct a preliminary engineering analysis for dam repairs and reinforcement. Dams serve to provide flood protection to businesses and residents during large storm events. Improvements to existing DESCRIPTION dams will increase flood protection. The Emergency Action Plan, Dam Breach, Analysis, and/or inspection/ safety equipment training may need to be updated along with improvements. HAZARD(S) Flooding ESTIMATED COST $500,000+ FUNDING Local taxes and Revenue TIMELINE 5+ years PRIORITY High LEAD AGENCY Public Works Department and City Administrator Dams 20-A and 40-B are inspected annually while dam 60-A is STATUS inspected every four years.

MITIGATION ACTION DEVELOP CONTINUITY PLANS FOR CRITICAL COMMUNITY SERVICES Continuity planning helps to ensure that services can be maintained DESCRIPTION during and after a disaster. HAZARD(S) All Hazards ESTIMATED COST $2,000+ FUNDING Local Taxes and Revenues TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY High LEAD AGENCY Public Works Department, City Council and Administrator STATUS This is an ongoing action. Information is updated as needed.

MITIGATION ACTION DRAINAGE STUDY/STORM WATER MASTER PLAN Drainage studies can be conducted to identify and prioritize improvements to address site specific localized flooding/drainage DESCRIPTION problems. Storm water master plans can be conducted to perform a community-wide storm water evaluation, identifying multiple problem areas, and potentially multiple drainage improvements for each. HAZARD(S) Flooding ESTIMATED COST $10,000+ FUNDING Local Taxes, HMGP, PDM TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY High LEAD AGENCY Public Works Department, City Council Specific areas have been identified for needed improvements STATUS including 2nd and Elm, and Orin and Main St.

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MITIGATION ACTION EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS Establish an action plan to improve communication between agencies DESCRIPTION to better assist residents and businesses during and following emergencies. Establish inner- operable communications. HAZARD(S) All Hazards ESTIMATED COST $15,000+ FUNDING Region 23 EMA TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY High LEAD AGENCY Police Department, Fire and Rescue Department Alert sirens are located in three locations in the city. All residents are STATUS encouraged to sign-up for the CodeRed alerts which is offered free- of-charge for anyone subscribing.

MITIGATION ACTION FIRE PREVENTION PROGRAM The Nebraska Forest Service Wildland Fire Protection Program provides services in wildfire suppression training, equipment, pre- DESCRIPTION suppression planning, wildfire preventions, and aerial fire suppression. HAZARD(S) Wildfire ESTIMATED COST Varies by need FUNDING Local Taxes and Revenue TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY High LEAD AGENCY Fire and Rescue Department STATUS This action has not yet been started.

MITIGATION ACTION FLOODPLAIN REGULATION ENFORCEMENT AND UPDATES Continue to enforce local floodplain regulations for structures located in the 1% annual. Strict enforcement of the type of development and elevations of structures should be considered through issuance of DESCRIPTION building permits by the city of Gordon. Continue education of building inspectors or Certified Floodplain Managers. HAZARD(S) Flooding ESTIMATED COST $4,000+ FUNDING Local Taxes and Revenue TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY High LEAD AGENCY Public Works Department This is an ongoing action. Regulations and codes are updated on an STATUS as-needed basis.

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GROUNDWATER/IRRIGATION/WATER CONSERVATION AND MITIGATION ACTION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES Develop and implement a plan/ best management practices to conserve water use and reduce total use (high water use to low water use) and consumption of groundwater resources by citizens and irrigators of agricultural land during elongated periods of drought Identify water saving irrigation projects of improvements such as sprinklers of soil moisture DESCRIPTION monitoring. Potential restrictions on water could include limitation on lawn watering, car washing, farm irrigation restrictions, or water sold to outside sources. Implement BMPs through water conservation practices such as changes in irrigation management, education on no-till agriculture and use of xeriscaping in communities. HAZARD(S) Drought and Extreme Heat, Flooding ESTIMATED COST $10,000 FUNDING Local Taxes TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY Medium LEAD AGENCY Public Works Department STATUS This project has not yet been started.

MITIGATION ACTION HAZARDOUS TREE REMOVAL DESCRIPTION Identify and remove hazardous limbs and/or trees. Drought and Extreme Heat, Severe Thunderstorms, Severe Winter HAZARD(S) Storms, Tornadoes and High Winds ESTIMATED COST $20,000 FUNDING Local Taxes and Revenues TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY Medium LEAD AGENCY Public Works Department Trees are removed on parks and public property on an as needed STATUS basis.

MITIGATION ACTION IMPROVE SNOW/ICE REMOVAL PROGRAMS Improve the snow routes and snow/ice removal procedures for streets. Improvements should address plowing snow, ice removal, DESCRIPTION parking during snow and ice removal, and removal of associated storm debris. HAZARD(S) Severe Winter Storms ESTIMATED COST $30,000+ FUNDING Local Taxes TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY High LEAD AGENCY Public Works Department Main arteries within the City have been identified. Routes in town are STATUS reviewed annually for accuracy.

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MITIGATION ACTION POWER AND SERVICE LINES Communities can work with their local Public Power District or Electricity Department to identify vulnerable transmission and distribution lines and plan to bury lines underground or retrofit existing structures to be less vulnerable to storm events. DESCRIPTION Electrical utilities shall be required to use underground construction methods where possible for future installation of power lines. Electrical utilities shall be required to use underground construction methods where possible for future installation of power lines. HAZARD(S) All Hazards ESTIMATED COST $1,000,000 per mile FUNDING General Funds TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY Medium LEAD AGENCY Public Works Department The City works in conjunction with NPPD for repair needs. New STATUS construction and retrofits should bury all powerlines in the future.

PRESERVE NATURAL AND BENEFICIAL FUNCTIONS OF A MITIGATION ACTION FLOODPLAIN Many communities may have outdated floodplain maps, or no floodplain map. Floodplain mapping efforts can be updated for DESCRIPTION communities/counties that participate in the NFIP. Improved data and analysis methods will provide more accurate floodplain delineations, allowing communities to better identify their flood threats. HAZARD(S) Flooding ESTIMATED COST N/A FUNDING Local Taxes TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY Low LEAD AGENCY Public Works Department STATUS This project has not yet been started.

MITIGATION ACTION PUBLIC EDUCATION/AWARENESS Through activities such as outreach projects, distribution of maps and environmental education increase public awareness of natural hazards to both public and private property owners, renters, DESCRIPTION businesses, and local officials about hazards and ways to protect people and property from these hazards. Also, educate citizens on water conservation methods, evacuation plans, etc. In addition, purchasing equipment such as overhead projectors and laptops. HAZARD(S) All Hazards ESTIMATED COST $500+ FUNDING Local Taxes TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY Medium LEAD AGENCY City Administration Public education and notification is an ongoing action. Residents are STATUS encouraged to enroll in the Code Red program.

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MITIGATION ACTION SAFE ROOMS Design and construct storm shelters and safe rooms in highly DESCRIPTION vulnerable areas such as mobile home parks, campgrounds, school, and other areas Severe Thunderstorms, Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes and High HAZARD(S) Winds ESTIMATED COST $200/sf retrofit, $300/sf new FUNDING Local Taxes TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY High LEAD AGENCY Police and Fire Departments There are no FEMA-certified safe rooms in the community but the City has identified storm shelter locations for the public at three (3) locations : City Hall, 311 North Oak; Gordon-Rushville High School, STATUS 810 N. Oak, Gordon Memorial Hospital, 300 East 8th (some of the churches are also available). Construction of new safe rooms or retrofits are needed.

MITIGATION ACTION STORMWATER SYSTEM AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS Smaller communities may utilize storm water systems comprising of ditches, culverts, or drainage ponds to convey runoff. Undersized systems can contribute to localized flooding. Drainage improvements may include ditch upsizing, ditch cleanout and culvert improvements. Retention and detention facilities may also be implemented to decrease runoff rates while also decreasing the need for other storm water system improvements. Bridges DESCRIPTION typically serve as flow restrictions along streams and rivers. Cleanout and reshaping of channel segments at bridge crossings can increase conveyance, reducing the potential for flooding. Replacement or modification of bridges may be necessary to provide greater capacity, maintain or improve structural integrity during flood events, and eliminate flooding threats and damages. HAZARD(S) Flooding ESTIMATED COST $10,000 - $100,000 FUNDING Local Taxes and Revenues TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY Medium LEAD AGENCY Public Works Department This is evaluated each year but the repairs are performed on an as STATUS needed basis or as funding becomes available.

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MITIGATION ACTION STREAMBANK STABILIZATION Stream bank degradation has occurred along many rivers and creeks. Stabilization improvements including rock rip rap, vegetative cover, j-hooks, DESCRIPTION boulder vanes, etc. can be implemented to reestablish the channel banks. Channel stabilization can protect structures, increase conveyance and provide flooding benefits. HAZARD(S) Flooding ESTIMATED COST $50,000+ FUNDING Local Taxes and Revenues TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY Medium LEAD AGENCY Public Works Department Repairs are done on an ‘as needed’. At this time no locations have STATUS been specifically identified as a need.

MITIGATION ACTION VULNERABLE POPULATION HOUSING Ensure that facilities which will house vulnerable populations are DESCRIPTION placed in the least vulnerable areas of the community HAZARD(S) All Hazards ESTIMATED COST $50,000+ FUNDING General Fund, PDM, HMGP TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY Medium LEAD AGENCY City Council The City is currently working to improve several neighborhoods and STATUS housing areas in town.

MITIGATION ACTION WEATHER RADIOS Conduct an inventory of weather radios at schools and other critical DESCRIPTION facilities and provide new radios as needed. HAZARD(S) All Hazards ESTIMATED COST $50 per radio FUNDING Local Taxes and Revenues TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY Low LEAD AGENCY Police and Fire Departments Residents have the ability to sign up for CodeRed warning systems STATUS but additional backup up radios are needed at critical facilities.

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MITIGATION ACTION WILDFIRE HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND MITIGATION SYSTEM Develop a hazard rating system through the use of GIS to identify and DESCRIPTION rate areas of the Region for their relative wildfire hazard. HAZARD(S) Wildfire ESTIMATED COST $20,000 FUNDING General Fund, PDM, HMGP, NFS TIMELINE 5+ years PRIORITY Low LEAD AGENCY Fire Department This would be a cooperative effort between Gordon VFD, Gordon STATUS Rural Fire District, Rushville VFD, and Sheridan County.

MITIGATION ACTION WINDBREAKS/LIVING SNOW FENCE Installation of windbreaks and/or living snow fences to increase water DESCRIPTION storage capacity in soil and reduce blowing snow/ soil. HAZARD(S) Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes and High Winds ESTIMATED COST $2,000+ FUNDING General Funds TIMELINE 5+ years PRIORITY Low LEAD AGENCY Public Works Department Several fences have been installed around the City and by the Airport; STATUS however, these should be converted to living fences. Other residents and surrounding ranchers plant their own windbreaks as needed.

Removed Actions MITIGATION ACTION DATABASE OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS Work with stakeholders to develop a database of vulnerable DESCRIPTION populations and the organizations which support them. HAZARD(S) All Hazards REASON FOR The City supports organizations and groups who request assistance REMOVAL but it is not practical for the City to maintain a database.

EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT RAIN GARDENS, GREEN ROOFS, AND MITIGATION ACTION OTHER MITIGATION MEASURES Educate the public about rain gardens, green roofs, and other DESCRIPTION mitigation measures HAZARD(S) All Hazards REASON FOR The local planning team indicated a lack of interest from the general REMOVAL public for this action and thus has been removed.

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MITIGATION ACTION FIRE WISE COMMUNITY Work with the Nebraska Forest Service and US Forest Service to become a Fire Wise Communities/USA participant. Develop a Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Train land owners about creating DESCRIPTION defensible space. Enact ordinances and building codes to increase defensible space, improve building materials to reduce structure ignitability, and increase access to structures by responders. Develop and implement brush and fuel thinning projects. HAZARD(S) Wildfire REASON FOR The City is not interested in FireWise at this time. REMOVAL

MITIGATION ACTION HAIL RESISTANT ROOFING DESCRIPTION Encourage the use of hail resistant roofing for any new construction HAZARD(S) Severe Thunderstorms This action was determined to no longer be a priority for the City. Hail REASON FOR resistant roofing should be determined between the property owner REMOVAL and insurance providers.

MITIGATION ACTION HAZARDOUS FUELS REDUCTION The Nebraska Forest Service (NFS) Forest Fuels Reduction Program creates strategically located corridors of thinned forests across the DESCRIPTION landscape reduces fire intensity, improves fire suppression effectiveness, increases firefighters safety, and better protects lives and property. HAZARD(S) Wildfire REASON FOR The City is not located near any large forested areas and is not a REMOVAL priority for the planning team.

MITIGATION ACTION LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE Low impact development practices and green infrastructure can DESCRIPTION reduce runoff and result in a reduction in storm water related flooding HAZARD(S) Flooding REASON FOR This action is no longer a priority for the City. REMOVAL

MITIGATION ACTION STABILIZE/ANCHOR FERTILIZER, FUELS, AND PROPANE TANKS Anchor fuel tanks to prevent movement. If left unanchored tanks could DESCRIPTION present a major threat to property and safety in a tornado of high wind event. HAZARD(S) Severe Thunderstorms, Tornadoes and High Winds REASON FOR This action is regulated by the state and local businesses as needed. REMOVAL

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MITIGATION ACTION VEHICULAR BARRIERS Ensure that facilities which will house vulnerable populations are DESCRIPTION placed in the least vulnerable areas of the community HAZARD(S) Chemical Transportation REASON FOR This action is no longer identified as a need for the community. REMOVAL

42 REGION 23 EMA HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN | 2020 Community Profile

CITY OF HAY SPRINGS

Region 23 Emergency Management Agency Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

2020

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Local Planning Team

Table HYS.1: Hay Springs Local Planning Team NAME TITLE JURISDICTION RICHARD MCKAY Mayor City of Hay Springs City of Hay Springs and EVERET LANGFORD Fire Fighter and Deputy Sheridan County DAWN RAY Support Services Pioneer Manor

Location and Geography The City of Hay Springs is located in the northwestern Sheridan County and covers an area of 0.38 square miles. There are no major waterways near the city. Transportation Hay Springs’s major transportation corridors include Nebraska Highway 87 which averages 1,170 vehicles per day and U.S. Highway 20 which averages 2,365 vehicles per day. 25 There are no rail lines located within Hay Springs. The local planning team noted that there are two alternate corridors that are only available during good weather conditions: 450th Lane northwest of the city and Line Street. Both routes are gravel roads which experience washout issues during heavy rain events. Additionally, chemicals including liquid fertilizers, anhydrous ammonia, fuel, propane, gas, diesel, and natural gas are all transported through the community regularly. Transportation information is important to hazard mitigation plans because it suggests possible evacuation corridors in the community, as well as areas more at risk to transportation incidents.

Chemical Transportation Hazardous materials are commonly transported by a range of transportation methods, including highways, rail, air, and pipeline. Railway and highway transportation spills are the most frequently occurring chemical transportation incidents. While incident proximity will always occur near or on transportation methods, it is not possible to predict precise locations of possible future events. Proximity of pipelines, rail lines, and highways near critical facilities or vulnerable population centers, including schools, daycares, nursing homes, and/or hospitals, increases overall vulnerability to chemical transportation spills. The two main highways, Nebraska State Highway 87 and U.S. Highway 20, are commonly used transport hazardous chemicals through Hay Springs. Private entities, local emergency response units, and state resources have strict regulatory oversight and emergency action plans in place to respond to significant chemical spills. In the case of chemical spills, the local volunteer fire department would respond and has the necessary equipment. However, many residents may still be at risk depending on where the spill occurs.

25 Nebraska Department of Roads. “Traffic Flow Map of the State Highways: State of Nebraska.” [map]. Scale 1”= 20 miles. State of Nebraska: Department of Roads, 2015. http://www.roads.nebraska.gov/media/2510/2014-statewide-traffic-flow-map.pdf

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Figure HYS.1: City of Hay Springs

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Demographics Hay Springs’s population declined slowly since 1950. Declining populations make communities more vulnerable to hazards as it leads to more unoccupied or vacant housing units and decreasing tax revenues to pursue mitigation projects. Hay Springs’s population accounted for 11% percent of Sheridan County’s population in 2017.26

Figure HYS.2: Estimated Population 1890 - 2017

1,200 1,091

1,000 853 823 819 794 800 693 682 652 577 570 573

600 Pop. Pop. 378 408 400 345

200

0 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 Year

Source: U.S. Census Bureau27

The young, elderly, minorities, and poor may be more vulnerable to certain hazards than other groups. In comparison to the County, Hay Springs’s population was:

• Older. The median age of Hay Springs was 59.7 years old in 2017, compared with the County average of 46.1 years. Hay Springs’s population has grown younger since 2010, when the median age was 67.5 years old. Hay Springs had a smaller proportion of people under 20 years old (10.0%) than the County (24.9%).28 • More ethnically diverse. Since 2010, Hay Springs grew more ethnically diverse. In 2010, 6.4% of Hay Springs’s population was American Indian and 1.6% was two or more races. By 2017, about 7.2% of Hay Springs’s population was American Indian and 3.5% was two or more races. During that time, the American Indian population in the County declined from 8.8% in 2010 to 9.5% in 2017.29 • Less likely to be at the federal poverty line. The poverty rate in Hay Springs (1.3% of families living below the federal poverty line) is lower than the County’s poverty rate (7.9%) in 2017.30

26 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: S0101: Age and Sex.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 27 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: S0101: Age and Sex.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov. 28 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: S0101: Age and Sex.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 29 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP05: ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 30 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/.

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Employment and Economics The City’s economic base is a mixture of industries. In comparison to Sheridan County, Hay Springs’s economy had:

• Similar mix of industries. Sheridan County and Hay Springs’s major employment sectors, accounting for 10% or more of employment each include Retail and Educational Services in 2017. Additionally, Sheridan County’s industries also included Agriculture/Fishing/Forestry.31 • Lower household income. Hay Springs’s median household income in 2017 ($37,130) was about $4,079 lower than the County ($41,209).32 • Similar long- and short-distance commuters. About 53.5% percent of workers in Hay Springs commuted for fewer than 15 minutes, compared with about 56.7% of workers in Sheridan County. About 22.1% of workers in Hay Springs commute 30 minutes or more to work, compared to about 25.6% of the County workers.33

Major Employers The major employers in the City include Hay Springs High School, the public power district, Security First Bank, Pioneer Manor, Westco, and West Plains Grain. Additionally, many residents commute to the surrounding areas for work including Chadron, Scottsbluff, Gordon, the Pine Ridge Reservation, and Martin, South Dakota. Housing In comparison to Sheridan County, Hay Springs’s housing stock was:

• More owner occupied. About 75.5% of occupied housing units in Hay Springs are owner occupied compared with 70.3% of occupied housing in Sheridan County in 2017.34 • Older housing stock. Hay Springs has a greater amount of houses built prior to 1970 than the county, 83.5% compared to 71.0% respectively.35 • Similar amount of multifamily homes. Although the predominant housing type in the City is single family detached, Hay Springs has a similar amount of multifamily housing with five or more units per structure compared to the County (3.0% compared to 3.4%). About 90.8% of housing in Hay Springs was single-family detached, compared with 83.7% of the County’s housing. Hay Springs has a smaller share of mobile and manufactured housing (1.5%) compared to the County (8.1%).36

This housing information is relevant to hazard mitigation insofar as the age of housing may indicate which housing units were built prior to state building codes being developed. Further, unoccupied housing may suggest that future development may be less likely to occur. Finally, communities with a substantial number of mobile homes may be more vulnerable to the impacts of high winds, tornadoes, and severe winter storms. Future Development Trends Over the past five years the City has seen several changes including new businesses that have moved into town and the demolition of homes without a replacement. If the city were to expand, the best option would be to expand to the south of highway 20 and then to the east to stay out of

31 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 32 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 33 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: S0802: Means of Transportation to Work by Selected Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 34 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP04: Selected Housing Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 35 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP04: Selected Housing Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 36 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP04: Selected Housing Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/.

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WUI high risk areas and the 1% annual floodplain. The local planning team indicated the community’s population is declining due to many young families moving away. In the next five years, only one new home is anticipated to be built and no new commercial developments are planned. Hay Springs has expressed interest in having the floodplain remapped as well. If that is completed, there may be more areas south of highway 20 that could be used for expansion of the corporate limits as well. Structural Inventory and Valuation The planning team requested GIS parcel data from the County Assessor as of December 2019. This data allowed the planning team to analyze the location, number, and value of property improvements at the parcel level. The data did not contain the number of structures on each parcel. A summary of the results of this analysis is provided in the following table.

Table HYS.2: Hay Springs Parcel Valuation NUMBER TOTAL NUMBER OF VALUE OF OF NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENT IMPROVEMENTS IMPROVEMENTS PARCELS IMPROVEMENTS VALUE IN FLOODPLAIN IN FLOODPLAIN 456 365 $14,427,976 120 $4,751,934 Source: County Assessor Critical Infrastructure/Key Resources Hazardous Materials Chemical Storage Fixed Sites According to the Tier II System reports submitted to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, there are three chemical storage sites in Hay Springs that contain hazardous chemicals. According to the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center, no fixed chemical spills have occurred in the community.

Table HYS.3: Chemical Storage Fixed Sites FACILITY NAME ADDRESS FARMERS CO-OP ELEVATOR CO Jct Highway 20 & Main St WESTCO NORTH PROPANE PLANT 2003 670th Rd WESTCO BULK PLANT 101 S 1st St Source: Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy37

Critical Facilities Each participating jurisdiction identified critical facilities vital for disaster response, providing shelter to the public, and essential for returning the jurisdiction’s functions to normal during and after a disaster per the FEMA Community Lifelines guidance. Critical facilities were identified during the original planning process and updated by the local planning team as a part of this plan update. The following table and figure provide a summary of the critical facilities for the jurisdiction.

The local planning team indicated the majority of facilities in town are available for community members to use as sheltering locations during hazard events. In particular, local community churches would be used as shelters or distribution centers after events.

37 Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy. “Search Tier II Data.” Accessed November 2018. https://deq-iis.ne.gov/tier2/search.faces.

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Table HYS.4: Critical Facilities CF Generator Floodplain Name Shelter (Y/N) Number (Y/N) (Y/N) 1 Community Hall Y N N Hay Springs Fire N 2 Y N Department 3 City Hall Y N N 4 Medical Clinic N N N Lister-Sage Community N 5 Y N Center Hay Springs Elementary N 6 Y N School 7 Hay Springs High School Y N N Pioneer Manor Senior N 8 N N Center 9 NWRPPD N N N St. Columbkille Catholic N 10 Y N Church 11 United Methodist Church Y N N 12 Zion Lutheran Church Y N N

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Figure HYS.3: Critical Facilities

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Historical Occurrences See the Sheridan County community profile for historical hazard events.

Drought and Extreme Heat The local planning team identified drought as a top concern to the community. Drought is generally a regional event, with impacts from a single drought event impacting multiple communities, counties, and even states. Based on historic records, drought has an annual probability of 15 percent. The community’s economy is closely tied to the agricultural sector which may be significantly impacted by drought events. Additionally, drought impacts significantly exacerbate wildfire events. The 2012 drought was the most recent significant event which created noticeable impacts on the community, specifically on the local economy.

High Winds and Tornadoes The local planning team identified tornadoes and high winds as a top concern for the community. According to the NCEI, there were two tornadoes which passed nearby Hay Springs. Both were E/F0 tornadoes which caused no property damages, injuries, or fatalities. In total there were 21 storms reported that had winds reported between 60 and 85 miles per hour. Winds of this magnitude, according to the Beaufort Wind Force Ranking, can cause trees to uproot, considerable structure damage, and over turning of improperly anchored mobile homes. The local planning team indicated a need for a list of emergency shelter locations in the community. Additionally, the community should establish routes for emergency evacuation for residents.

Severe Thunderstorms The county planning team identified hailstorms as a top concern for the city of Hay Springs. The NCEI reported 95 events with a total of over $1,114,000 in property damages. One thunderstorm lightning event in 2012 caused injuries to three individuals. The NCEI reported, “Lightning ignited a wildfire on August 29th that spread quickly north across grassland and timbers across northwest Sheridan County. The wildfire burned approximate 44,159 acres in Nebraska and moved north into South Dakota. Initial assessments showed the wildfire burned approximately 100 power poles. The Rushville Sheriff requested an Evacuate Immediate (NWEM) message as the fire spread into parks and to alert homeowners and campers in the area. The fire stats showed 50 to 60 outbuildings destroyed, and approximately 10 homes damaged. The wildfire continued into September.”

Wildfire As discussed above, a lightning sparked wildfire event caused significant damage to Hay Springs. According to the CWPP, the community is entirely within the WUI. The Hay Springs Fire Department reported 125 wildfire events which burned 79,191 acres between 2000 and 2018. The fire department has mutual aid agreements with the fire departments in the surrounding areas, but during large scale events it is possible nearby fire department would be unable to lend assistance due to addressing the needs of their respective community/protection area.

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Governance A community’s governance indicates the number of boards or offices that may be available to help implement hazard mitigation actions. Hay Springs has a number of offices or departments that may be involved in implementing hazard mitigation initiatives. The City has a mayor and a five member council and the following offices.

Table HYS.5: Capability Assessment Survey Components/Subcomponents Yes/No Comprehensive Plan Yes Capital Improvements Plan No Economic Development Plan No Emergency Operational Plan Yes (County) Floodplain Management Plan Yes (in progress) PLANNING Storm Water Management Plan No & Zoning Ordinance No REGULATORY Subdivision Regulation/Ordinance No CAPABILITY Floodplain Ordinance Yes Building Codes No National Flood Insurance Program Yes Community Rating System No Community Wildfire Protection Plan Yes Other (if any) Planning Commission Yes Floodplain Administration Yes GIS Capabilities No ADMINISTRATIVE Chief Building Official No & Civil Engineering No TECHNICAL Local Staff Who Can Assess Community’s No CAPABILITY Vulnerability to Hazards Grant Manager No Mutual Aid Agreement No Other (if any)

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Survey Components/Subcomponents Yes/No Capital Improvement Plan/ 1 & 6 Year plan No Applied for grants in the past Yes Awarded a grant in the past Yes Authority to Levy Taxes for Specific Purposes Yes such as Mitigation Projects FISCAL Gas/Electric Service Fees Yes CAPABILITY Storm Water Service Fees No Water/Sewer Service Fees Yes Development Impact Fees No General Obligation Revenue or Special Tax No Bonds Other (if any) Local citizen groups or non-profit organizations focused on environmental protection, emergency preparedness, access and functional No needs populations, etc. Ex. CERT Teams, Red Cross, etc. Ongoing public education or information EDUCATION program (e.g., responsible water use, fire safety, No & household preparedness, environmental OUTREACH education) CAPABILITY Natural Disaster or Safety related school No programs StormReady Certification No Firewise Communities Certification No Tree City USA No Other (if any)

Overall Capability Limited/Moderate/High Does your county have the financial resources need to Limited implement mitigation projects? Does your county have the staff/expertise to implement Limited projects? Does your county have the community support to Limited implement projects? Does your county staff have the time to devote to hazard Moderate mitigation?

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Plan Integration The Hay Springs Comprehensive Plan was last updated in August 2016 and discusses housing and infrastructure needs for the city. In particular, the plan identifies stormwater improvement needs to meet local demand for residents. The plan emphasizes hazard mitigation principles for future land use and housing development to take place outside of flood hazard areas.

The City of Hay Springs follows Sheridan County’s building and zoning codes and ordinances. As a NFIP participant, the city has a floodplain ordinance which requires any development in the floodplain to receive a permit and be built at least one foot above BFE. A floodplain management plan is currently under development.

The City of Hay Springs has an annex within the Sheridan County LEOP, last updated May 2018. This plan incorporates mitigation by: identifying hazards of concern requiring emergency action; specific responsibilities of individual communities or community roles; scenarios that would require evacuation; sheltering locations; an animal disease response plan; media contacts; and other information for the county. This plan is updated every five years by Region 23 Emergency Management Agency.

Mitigation Strategy

New or Ongoing Actions MITIGATION ACTION PUBLIC AWARENESS/EDUCATION Through activities such as outreach projects, distribution of maps and environmental education increase public awareness of natural hazards to both public and private property owners, renters, DESCRIPTION businesses, and local officials about hazards and ways to protect people and property from these hazards. Also, educate citizens on water conservation methods, evacuation plans, etc. In addition, purchasing equipment such as overhead projectors and laptops. HAZARD(S) All Hazards ESTIMATED COST $500+ FUNDING General Funds, HMGP, PDM TIMELINE 5+ years PRIORITY Medium LEAD AGENCY City Clerk STATUS This project has not yet been started.

MITIGATION ACTION RE-EVALUATE FLOOD ZONES Re-evaluate and correct flood zones due to relocation of dams north DESCRIPTION of town HAZARD(S) Flooding ESTIMATED COST Unknown FUNDING General Fund, HMGP, PDM TIMELINE 2 – 5 years PRIORITY High LEAD AGENCY Floodplain Administrator STATUS This project has not yet been started.

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MITIGATION ACTION STORMWATER SYSTEM AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS Smaller communities may utilize storm water systems comprising of ditches, culverts, or drainage ponds to convey runoff. Undersized systems can contribute to localized flooding. Drainage improvements may include ditch upsizing, ditch cleanout and culvert improvements. Retention and detention facilities may also be implemented to decrease runoff rates while also decreasing the need for other DESCRIPTION stormwater system improvements. Bridges typically serve as flow restrictions along streams and rivers. Cleanout and reshaping of channel segments at bridge crossings can increase conveyance, reducing the potential for flooding. Replacement or modification of bridges may be necessary to provide greater capacity, maintain or improve structural integrity during flood events, and eliminate flooding threats and damages. HAZARD(S) Flooding ESTIMATED COST $10,000+ FUNDING General Funds, HMGP, PDM TIMELINE 1 year PRIORITY High LEAD AGENCY Streets Department Drainage improvements are needed along the alleyway between N. Baker and N. Miller Street from First to Third Streets. These STATUS improvements may include installation of a storm drain and sewer line repairs and lining.

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56 REGION 23 EMA HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN | 2020 Community Profile

CITY OF RUSHVILLE

Region 23 Emergency Management Agency Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

2020

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Local Planning Team

Table RSV.1: Rushville Local Planning Team NAME TITLE JURISDICTION CONNIE ROFFERS City Clerk City of Rushville

Location and Geography The City of Rushville is located in north central Sheridan County and covers an area of 1.15 square miles. The City of Rushville is the county seat for Sheridan County. Rush Creek is located south of the City.

Figure RSV.1: City of Rushville

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Transportation Rushville’s major transportation corridors include Nebraska Highway 250 which averages 220 vehicles per day, Nebraska Highway 87 which averages 910 vehicles per day, and U.S. Highway 20 which averages 2,345 vehicles per day. 38 The Modisett Airport is located in Rushville, but there are no railroads located in or near the city. Transportation information is important to hazard mitigation plans because it suggests possible evacuation corridors in the community, as well as areas more at risk to transportation incidents.

Chemical Transportation Hazardous materials are commonly transported by a range of transportation methods, including highways, rail, air, and pipeline. Railway and highway transportation spills are the most frequently occurring chemical transportation incidents. While incident proximity will always occur near or on transportation methods, it is not possible to predict precise locations of possible future events. Proximity of pipelines, rail lines, and highways near critical facilities or vulnerable population centers, including schools, daycares, nursing homes, and/or hospitals, increases overall vulnerability to chemical transportation spills. No rail lines are located near the City, however highways are commonly used transport hazardous chemicals through Rushville. The local planning team indicated a large number of semi-trucks travel through town. The local volunteer fire department would respond to any chemical incidents. Private entities, local emergency response units, and state resources have strict regulatory oversight and emergency action plans in place to respond to significant chemical spills. Demographics Rushville’s population declined from a peak of 1,266 in 1950 to 928 people in 2017. Declining populations make communities more vulnerable to hazards as it leads to more unoccupied or vacant housing units and decreasing tax revenues to pursue mitigation projects. Rushville’s population accounted for 18% percent of Sheridan County’s population in 2017.39

Figure RSV.2: Estimated Population 1890 - 2017

1,400 1,266 1,228 1,217 1,200 1,125 1,137 1,127 1,006 999 955 928 1,000 890

800

633 Pop. 600 484 483

400

200

0 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 Year

Source: U.S. Census Bureau40

38 Nebraska Department of Roads. “Traffic Flow Map of the State Highways: State of Nebraska.” [map]. Scale 1”= 20 miles. State of Nebraska: Department of Roads, 2015. http://www.roads.nebraska.gov/media/2510/2014-statewide-traffic-flow-map.pdf 39 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: S0101: Age and Sex.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 40 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: S0101: Age and Sex.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov.

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The young, elderly, minorities, and poor may be more vulnerable to certain hazards than other groups. In comparison to the County, Rushville’s population was:

• Younger. The median age of Rushville was 38 years old in 2017, compared with the County average of 46.1 years. Rushville’s population has grown older since 2010, when the median age was 36.1 years old. Rushville had a larger proportion of people under 20 years old (28.9%) than the County (24.9%).41 • More ethnically diverse. Since 2010, Rushville was similarly ethnically diverse. In 2010, 17.8% of Rushville’s population was American Indian and 8.6% was two or more races. By 2017, about 14.4% of Rushville’s population was American Indian and 14.5% was two or more races. During that time, the American Indian population in the County grew from 14.4% in 2010 to 9.5% in 2017.42 • More likely to be at the federal poverty line. The poverty rate in Rushville (12.9% of families living below the federal poverty line) is slightly greater than the County’s poverty rate (7.9%) in 2017.43

Employment and Economics The City’s economic base is a mixture of industries. In comparison to Sheridan County, Rushville’s economy had:

• Similar mix of industries. Sheridan County and Rushville’s major employment sectors, accounting for 10% or more of employment each include Retail and Educational Services in 2017. Additionally, Sheridan County’s industries also included Agriculture/Fishing/Forestry.44 • Lower household income. Rushville’s median household income in 2017 ($37,898) was about $3,311 lower than the County ($41,209).45 • Mix of short or long-distance commuters. About 44.6% percent of workers in Rushville commuted for fewer than 15 minutes, compared with about 56.7% of workers in Sheridan County. About 30.7% of workers in Rushville commute 30 minutes or more to work, compared to about 25.6% of the County workers.46

Major Employers Major employers in the City of Rushville include Gordon-Rushville Public Schools, the local bank, Sand Ridge Golf Course, Sheridan Livestock Auction, and numerous smaller businesses. Many residents commute to the surrounding areas and Pine Ridge for work as well.

Housing In comparison to Sheridan County, Rushville’s housing stock was:

• Less owner occupied. About 60.9% of occupied housing units in Rushville are owner occupied compared with 70.3% of occupied housing in Sheridan County in 2017.47

41 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: S0101: Age and Sex.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 42 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP05: ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 43 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 44 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 45 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 46 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: S0802: Means of Transportation to Work by Selected Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 47 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP04: Selected Housing Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/.

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• Similarly aged housing stock. Rushville and Sheridan County have a similar share of housing built prior to 1970 (87.0% compared to 82.4%).48 • More multifamily homes. Although the predominant housing type in the City is single family detached, Rushville contains more multifamily housing with five or more units per structure compared to the County (8.0% compared to 3.4%). About 74.8% of housing in Rushville was single-family detached, compared with 83.7% of the County’s housing. Rushville has a smaller share of mobile and manufactured housing (10.9%) compared to the County (8.1%).49 Mobile homes are located along the northeastern corner of the City.

This housing information is relevant to hazard mitigation insofar as the age of housing may indicate which housing units were built prior to state building codes being developed. Further, unoccupied housing may suggest that future development may be less likely to occur. Finally, communities with a substantial number of mobile homes may be more vulnerable to the impacts of high winds, tornadoes, and severe winter storms. Future Development Trends The City of Rushville has seen little change in the past five years. No new housing or commercial developments have been constructed. The local planning team does not expect much growth over the next five to ten years. Given the rate of vacant buildings there is sufficient space for development to occur within the existing corporate limits. At this time the planning team did not expect to see an increase in codes or zoning. If expansion does occur it would be suggest that Rushville expand to the south to remain outside the WUI.

Table RSV.2: Rushville Parcel Valuation NUMBER TOTAL NUMBER OF VALUE OF OF NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENT IMPROVEMENTS IMPROVEMENTS PARCELS IMPROVEMENTS VALUE IN FLOODPLAIN IN FLOODPLAIN 651 518 $22,511,245 4 $486,388 Source: County Assessor Critical Infrastructure/Key Resources Hazardous Materials Chemical Storage Fixed Sites According to the Tier II System reports submitted to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, there is one chemical storage sites in Rushville that contain hazardous chemicals. According to the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center, no fixed chemical spills have occurred in the community.

48 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP04: Selected Housing Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/. 49 United States Census Bureau. “2017 American Fact Finder: DP04: Selected Housing Characteristics.” [database file]. https://factfinder.census.gov/.

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Table RSV.3: Chemical Storage Fixed Sites FACILITY NAME ADDRESS WESTCO STATION 304 W 2nd St Source: Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy50

Critical Facilities Each participating jurisdiction identified critical facilities vital for disaster response, providing shelter to the public, and essential for returning the jurisdiction’s functions to normal during and after a disaster per the FEMA Community Lifelines guidance. Critical facilities were identified during the original planning process and updated by the local planning team as a part of this plan update. The following table and figure provide a summary of the critical facilities for the jurisdiction.

Table RSV.4: Critical Facilities CF Shelter Generator Floodplain Name Number (Y/N) (Y/N) (Y/N) 1 Water Tower N N N 2 NPPD Substation N N N Parkview Lodge Assisted N 3 N Y Living Rushville Elementary N 4 N Y School Gordon-Rushville Middle N 5 N Y School 6 American Legion N N N 7 County Courthouse N N N 8 Sheriff’s Office N N N 9 City Office N N N 10 Sewer Plant* N Y N Rushville Volunteer Fire N 11 Y N Department *Not mapped: Sewer Plant located west of town

50 Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy. “Search Tier II Data.” Accessed November 2018. https://deq-iis.ne.gov/tier2/search.faces.

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Figure RSV.3: Critical Facilities

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Historical Occurrences See the Sheridan County community profile for historical hazard events.

Drought and Extreme Heat The local planning team identified drought as a top concern to the community. Drought is generally a regional event, with impacts from a single drought event impacting multiple communities, counties, and even states. Rushville relies heavily on the agricultural sector and drought impacts can significantly impact the industry. Wildfire is also of greater concern during times of drought with reduced water supplies and highly flammable landcover.

Flooding Flooding was identified as a hazard of concern for Rushville based on past flood damages. During the March 2019 flood event, numerous roads surrounding the community were washed out and the primary route of Highway 20 was significantly damaged. Residents and emergency responders experienced significant transportation delays. However, few residents in town experienced flooding impacts to homes or businesses. Currently there is no flood insurance held on community buildings due to prohibitive cost.

High Winds and Tornadoes The local planning team identified high winds and tornadoes as a significant concern for the community. According to the NCEI, there were ten tornadoes located within Sheridan County and passed nearby Rushville between 1996 and 2019. Nine tornadoes were rated an EF/F0 and caused $1,000 property damage and $1,000 in crop damage. There was also one tornado in 2006 that was rated an F1 and caused $150,000 in property damage.

Severe Thunderstorms Severe thunderstorms are a regular part of the climate for Sheridan County and Rushville. The local planning team identified severe thunderstorms as a significant threat for Rushville. The NCEI recorded 91 thunderstorm events (heavy rain, thunderstorm wind, lighting strikes, and hail) between 1996 and 2019 with $340,000 in damages to property and over $28 million in crop damages across the County, including to Rushville. The local airport has experienced severe damage from both hail and high wind events.

Severe thunderstorms and hail can result in loss of electricity, blocked roadways, damages to trees, and flooding. Blocked roadways may also present life safety concerns to those needing immediate medical attention or evacuation.

Severe Winter Storms Severe winter storms are a regular occurrence for Rushville. The planning team identified severe winter storms as the greatest threat in the future, but given the frequency of occurrence, residents across the county are prepared for the events and able to effectively cope with their occurrences. According to the NCEI there were 79 severe winter storms in Sheridan County which included

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Rushville from 1996 through December 2019. These events resulted in $85,000 in property damage.

Wildfire Wildfire is a top concern for the City and across the entire planning area. A major fire in 2012 ran across the county and spanned between hay Springs and Pine Ridge. There is a local volunteer fire department who have mutual aid agreements across the planning area. The Rushville Fire Department reported 135 fire events which burned 57,561 acres between 2000 and 2018. There are also concerns about high winds on the plains pushing wildfire across swaths of land and towards or around communities. Governance A community’s governance indicates the number of boards or offices that may be available to help implement hazard mitigation actions. Rushville has a number of offices or departments that may be involved in implementing hazard mitigation initiatives. The City has a mayor and a four member council and the following offices.

• City Clerk • City Superintendent • Chamber of Commerce • Economic Development Committee • Planning Commission • Electric Department • Fire Department • Police Department • Streets Department • Sewer/Water Department Capability Assessment The capability assessment consisted of a Capability Assessment Survey completed by the jurisdiction and a review of local existing policies, regulations, plans, and the programs. The survey is used to gather information regarding the jurisdiction’s planning and regulatory capability; administrative and technical capability; fiscal capability; and educational and outreach capability.

Table RSV.5: Capability Assessment Survey Components/Subcomponents Yes/No Comprehensive Plan Yes Capital Improvements Plan Yes Economic Development Plan No Emergency Operational Plan Yes (County) PLANNING Floodplain Management Plan No & Storm Water Management Plan No REGULATORY CAPABILITY Zoning Ordinance Yes (County) Subdivision Regulation/Ordinance Yes Floodplain Ordinance Yes Building Codes Yes (County) National Flood Insurance Program Yes

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Survey Components/Subcomponents Yes/No Community Rating System No Community Wildfire Protection Plan Yes Other (if any) Planning Commission Yes Floodplain Administration Yes GIS Capabilities No ADMINISTRATIVE Chief Building Official No & Civil Engineering No TECHNICAL Local Staff Who Can Assess Community’s No CAPABILITY Vulnerability to Hazards Grant Manager No Mutual Aid Agreement Yes Other (if any) Capital Improvement Plan/ 1 & 6 Year plan Yes Applied for grants in the past Yes Awarded a grant in the past Yes Authority to Levy Taxes for Specific Purposes Yes such as Mitigation Projects FISCAL Gas/Electric Service Fees Yes CAPABILITY Storm Water Service Fees No Water/Sewer Service Fees Yes Development Impact Fees No General Obligation Revenue or Special Tax No Bonds Other (if any) Local citizen groups or non-profit organizations focused on environmental protection, emergency preparedness, access and functional No needs populations, etc. Ex. CERT Teams, Red Cross, etc. Ongoing public education or information EDUCATION program (e.g., responsible water use, fire safety, No & household preparedness, environmental OUTREACH education) CAPABILITY Natural Disaster or Safety related school No programs StormReady Certification No Firewise Communities Certification No Tree City USA No Other (if any)

Overall Capability Limited/Moderate/High Does your county have the financial resources need to Limited implement mitigation projects?

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Does your county have the staff/expertise to implement Limited projects? Does your county have the community support to Moderate implement projects? Does your county staff have the time to devote to hazard Limited mitigation?

Plan Integration The City of Rushville has an annex within the Sheridan County LEOP, last updated May 2018. This plan incorporates mitigation by: identifying hazards of concern requiring emergency action; specific responsibilities of individual communities or community roles; scenarios that would require evacuation; sheltering locations; an animal disease response plan; media contacts; and other information for the county. This plan is updated every five years by Region 23 Emergency Management Agency.

The city has a floodplain ordinance and zoning which regulates development within the floodplain and flood hazard areas. Local plans including the Comprehensive Plan and Capital Improvement Plans do not emphasize hazard mitigation objectives. No other plan integration capabilities were identified during this plan update.

Mitigation Strategy

Completed Actions: MITIGATION ACTION FLOODPLAIN REGULATION ENFORCEMENT AND UPDATES Continue to enforce local floodplain regulations for structures located in the 1% annual. Strict enforcement of the type of development and elevations of structures should be considered through issuance of DESCRIPTION building permits by the City of Rushville . Continue education of building inspectors or Certified Floodplain Managers. HAZARD(S) Flooding The City enforces floodplain ordinance and codes as needed for STATUS development.

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New and Ongoing Actions: MITIGATION ACTION BACKUP POWER GENERATORS Provide a portable or stationary source of backup power to redundant DESCRIPTION power supplies, municipal wells, lift stations, and other critical facilities and shelters HAZARD(S) All hazards ESTIMATED COST $15,000-$35,000+ FUNDING General Fund, HMGP, PDM TIMELINE 5+ years PRIORITY Low LEAD AGENCY City Clerk, Fire Department This project has not yet been started. Generators are needed at local STATUS schools, fire department, and city office.

MITIGATION ACTION DRAINAGE STUDY/STORMWATER MASTER PLAN Drainage studies can be conducted to identify and prioritize improvements to address site specific localized flooding/drainage DESCRIPTION problems. Stormwater master plans can be conducted to perform a community-wide stormwater evaluation, identifying multiple problem areas, and potentially multiple drainage improvements for each. HAZARD(S) Flooding ESTIMATED COST $10,000 - $100,000+ FUNDING General Fund, UNWNRD, CDBG TIMELINE 5+ years PRIORITY High LEAD AGENCY Rushville City Council, Clerk, Floodplain Administrator STATUS This project has not yet been started

MITIGATION ACTION STORMWATER SYSTEM AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS Smaller communities may utilize storm water systems comprising of ditches, culverts, or drainage ponds to convey runoff. Undersized systems can contribute to localized flooding. Drainage improvements may include ditch upsizing, ditch cleanout and culvert improvements. Retention and detention facilities may also be implemented to decrease runoff rates while also decreasing the need for other storm DESCRIPTION water system improvements. Bridges typically serve as flow restrictions along streams and rivers. Cleanout and reshaping of channel segments at bridge crossings can increase conveyance, reducing the potential for flooding. Replacement or modification of bridges may be necessary to provide greater capacity, maintain or improve structural integrity during flood events, and eliminate flooding threats and damages. HAZARD(S) Flooding ESTIMATED COST $50,000+ FUNDING General Fund, CBDG, UNWNRD TIMELINE 5+ years PRIORITY High LEAD AGENCY City Council, City Clerk STATUS This project has not yet been started

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MITIGATION ACTION WEATHER RADIOS Conduct an inventory of weather radios at schools and other critical DESCRIPTION facilities and provide new radios as needed. HAZARD(S) All Hazards ESTIMATED COST $50 per radio FUNDING General Funds TIMELINE 2-5 years PRIORITY High LEAD AGENCY City Clerk STATUS This project has not yet been started

Removed Actions: MAINTAIN GOOD STANDING IN THE NATIONAL FLOOD MITIGATION ACTION INSURANCE PROGRAM Maintain good standing in the National Flood Insurance Program DESCRIPTION (NFIP). HAZARD(S) Flooding While the City will continue to meet NFIP requirements and participate REASON FOR REMOVAL in the program, this is no longer considered a mitigation action by FEMA.

MITIGATION ACTION PUBLIC AWARENESS/EDUCATION Through activities such as outreach projects, distribution of maps and environmental education increase public awareness of natural hazards to both public and private property owners, renters, DESCRIPTION businesses, and local officials about hazards and ways to protect people and property from these hazards. Also, educate citizens on water conservation methods, evacuation plans, etc. In addition, purchasing equipment such as overhead projectors and laptops HAZARD(S) All Hazards This project was identified to no longer be a priority for the community REASON FOR REMOVAL due to limited staff time and resources.

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